go
go
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "go" is /ɡoʊ/.
/ɡ/ - a voiced velar stop
/oʊ/ - a diphthong, starting with a mid-back vowel and moving to a high-mid back vowel
Word Form Variations
"Go" has several word form variations, though some are more common than others:
go (base form): This is the infinitive form and is used as the present tense for most subjects (I go, you go, we go, they go). It's also used as the imperative (Go!).
goes: Third-person singular present tense (he/she/it goes).
went: Past tense of "go."
gone: Past participle of "go." Used in perfect tenses (I have gone) and passive constructions.
going: Present participle/gerund. Used in continuous tenses (I am going) and as a noun (The going was tough).
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb (Most common usage)
Definition 1 (Movement): To move from one place to another.
Synonyms: travel, proceed, depart, advance, journey, repair, hie, wend
Antonyms: stay, remain, halt, stop, arrive
Example: I will go to the store later.
Definition 2 (Departure/Cessation): To cease to exist or function; to become inoperative.
Synonyms: expire, end, disappear, vanish, fade, die, terminate
Antonyms: begin, start, continue, persist, remain
Example: The milk will go bad if you leave it out.
Definition 3 (Progress/Development): To proceed or develop in a particular way.
Synonyms: progress, advance, fare, develop, evolve, turn out
Antonyms: decline, regress, deteriorate, stagnate
Example: How did the meeting go?
Definition 4 (Informal - to be): To be in a certain state or condition.
Synonyms: be, become, get, turn
Antonyms: remain, stay
Example: Things are going well.
Definition 5 (Informal - to fit/match): To be compatible or harmonious.
Synonyms: match, fit, suit, harmonize, complement
Antonyms: clash, conflict, mismatch, disagree
Example: That shirt doesn't go with those pants.
Noun
Definition 1 (Act of going): The act of moving from one place to another; a journey.
Synonyms: trip, journey, expedition, excursion, outing, passage
Antonyms: stay, halt, rest, arrival
Example: I had a good go at finishing the puzzle.
Definition 2 (Informal - attempt): An attempt or try at something.
Synonyms: try, attempt, effort, stab
Antonyms: inaction, idleness, avoidance
Example: He gave it a good go.
Adjective (Rarely used)
Definition 1 (In motion): In a state of motion or activity. (Usually part of a compound adjective)
Synonyms: moving, active, mobile
Antonyms: stationary, still, immobile
Example: a go-kart (a kart that goes).
Adverb (Rarely used)
Definition 1 (Informal - strongly): Used to emphasize the intensity of an action.
Synonyms: completely, fully, thoroughly
Antonyms: partially, incompletely, slightly
Example: He went and did it, go him! (This usage is archaic or regional).
Examples of Use
Literature:
"Go, and make money by the means which have been put in your hands, and by the exercise of your own abilities." (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice) This uses "go" in the sense of proceeding or undertaking an action.
"I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky," (John Masefield, "Sea-Fever") This uses "go" in the sense of traveling.
News/Online Publications:
"Stocks Go Higher on Positive Earnings Reports" (Headline example - typical financial news usage) This uses "go" to indicate a trend or direction.
"The city council voted to go ahead with the new park project." (News article example) This uses "go" in the phrasal verb "go ahead" meaning to proceed.
Entertainment:
"Go, go, Power Rangers!" (Catchphrase from the Power Rangers franchise) This uses "go" as an imperative, urging action.
"Let It Go" (Song title from the movie Frozen) This uses "go" in the sense of releasing or abandoning something.
"Ready, Set, Go!" (Common phrase in games and races) This uses "go" as a command to start.
General Public Discourse:
"I have to go to work." (Common everyday statement) This uses "go" in the sense of traveling to a specific location.
"How's it going?" (Common greeting) This uses "going" in the sense of progress or current state.
"The food went bad." (Everyday situation) This uses "went" to indicate a change in state.
"Those shoes don't go with that dress." (Fashion discussion) This uses "go" to indicate compatibility.
10 Famous Quotes Using Go
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." — Henry David Thoreau
"Don't go through life, grow through life." — Eric Butterworth
"Let it go. Let it go. Can’t hold it back anymore." — Idina Menzel, Frozen (Disney)
"If you're going through hell, keep going." — Winston Churchill
"Go big or go home." — Popular modern proverb, often used in business and sports
"Go where you are celebrated, not tolerated." — Paul F. Davis
"Go for it now. The future is promised to no one." — Wayne Dyer
"Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans. So go live it." — John Lennon (paraphrased)
"Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see further." — J.P. Morgan
"Sometimes you just have to let go of the picture of what you thought life would be like and learn to find joy in the story you're living." — Rachel Marie Martin
Etymology
The word "go" has a long and interesting history! It comes from very old language roots. Think of it like a family tree for words. "Go" is part of a big family that includes words in many different languages.
Its oldest ancestor is a Proto-Germanic word, which we don't know the exact spelling of, but linguists reconstruct it as something like *gāną. This Proto-Germanic word meant basically the same thing as our "go" – to move, proceed, or travel.
Even further back, that Proto-Germanic word likely came from an even older Indo-European root, *ghē-, which is also related to movement and going. So, way, way back, many languages had words stemming from this *ghē- idea of motion.
The first recorded use of "go" in English (or Old English, as it was then) was around the year 1000 AD. At that time, it was spelled *gān. It already had the basic meaning of moving from one place to another. So, even a thousand years ago, people were using "go" in much the same way we do today!
Over time, the spelling changed a little bit (from *gān to "go"), but the core meaning stayed the same. It's a testament to how fundamental the idea of movement is to human experience that this little word has remained so consistent for so long.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Go
Common Phrases and Idioms:
Go ahead: To proceed or give permission. "Go ahead and take a seat."
Go along with: To agree or cooperate. "I went along with their plan."
Go back: To return. "I need to go back to the store."
Go on: To continue. "The show must go on." (Also can mean "Don't say that!" or "I don't believe you!")
Go out: To leave a place, especially for social reasons. "We're going out for dinner." (Also can refer to a light being extinguished).
Go over: To review or examine. "Let's go over the details."
Go through: To experience or endure. "They went through a difficult time." (Also can mean to examine or search).
Go up/down: To increase/decrease. "Prices are going up."
Go with: To match or suit. "That tie doesn't go with that shirt."
Go without: To manage without something. "I had to go without coffee today."
Go to bed: To retire for sleep.
Go to the bathroom/restroom: To use the toilet.
Go for it: To try something; to pursue a goal.
Go figure: An expression of surprise or resignation.
Go easy on (someone): To treat someone gently or leniently.
Go hard: To put a lot of effort into something.
Go off: To explode, make a loud noise, or (of food) to spoil. Also can mean to suddenly become angry.
Go on a diet: To restrict one's food intake for health or weight-loss reasons.
Go steady: To date someone exclusively.
Go Dutch: To split the bill.
Figurative and Less Common, but Interesting:
Go against the grain: To act or think in opposition to the norm.
Go the extra mile: To do more than is expected.
Go to town: To do something enthusiastically or thoroughly.
Go bananas: To become very excited or crazy.
Go down in flames: To fail spectacularly.
Go haywire: To malfunction or go out of control.
Go figure! Expressing surprise or disbelief.
Go jump in a lake! A rude dismissal.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of go from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
